Government accelerates industrialisation

Government accelerates industrialisation

Mazabuka, February 18, ZANIS—-Government is in the process of accelerating massive industrialisation across the country in order to create jobs and wealth.

Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry, Margret Mwanakatwe, says government is doing everything possible to ensure that the manufacturing sector thrives and becomes locally and internationally competitive.

Mrs Mwanakatwe said this when she launched the $82m Zambia Sugar Nakambala Expansion project in Mazabuka today.

Mrs Mwanakatwe was accompanied by Commerce Permanent Secretary, Siakazongo Siakalenge, Director General of Zambia Development Agency
Patrick Chisanga, and representatives from the British and South African High Commissions.

The project includes the construction of a modern high specification refinery that will double refined sugar production to 100, 000 tones and increase industrial sugar production to 45,000 tones.

The investment will make Zambia Sugar the largest sugar producer in Africa through the construction of a mill that will enhance the production capacity and increase the company’s product image.

Mrs Mwanakatwe said government will endeavour to promote sustainable and globally competitive commercial industrial and trade sectors in the country.
She said it was for this reason that government will continue with the vision of establishing necessary economic infrastructure in order to open up the country to investment and industrialisation.

The minister pointed out that the expansion project at Zambia Sugar is a good example of economic diversification which government has been advocating for in a long time.

And newly appointed Zambia Sugar Managing Director, Rebecca Katowa, said her company is focused on diversifying the economy through value addition to its sugar production in order to achieve sustainable goals.

Mrs Katowa attributed the expansion project to an increase in demand for the sugar company’s production from domestic and industrial manufactures.

She said the expansion project will create 400 jobs for the local people and will also support 145 individual small scale growers.

And Zambia Sugar Board Chairperson, Fidelise Banda, thanked cooperating and financial partners for supporting the company in its sugar mill expansion project.

Mr Banda assured the minister that the company will remain socially
responsible by ensuring that it supports the local community in
uplifting the warfare of people in that district through job creation
and  provision of business opportunities.